MS expands Live movie content

Microsoft and Paramount Pictures have unveiled the new Xbox Movie Showcase service, significantly expanding the range of content available through Xbox Live.

Beginning with the release of an HD trailer for Paramount's forthcoming Mission: Impossible III film, the Movie Showcase will offer the rapidly expanding Xbox Live community a selection of free-to-download content that includes film trailers, exclusive themes, graphics and customisation content for the Xbox 360.

Additionally, featured movie stars including Jack Black (star of the forthcoming Nacho Libre, the trailer and digital content for which is soon to appear on Xbox Live) will also be taking part in Microsoft's community-based "Game with Fame", where gamers can enter for a chance to play an online game with various celebrities.

Microsoft's Xbox Live service, which is an integral part of the multimedia and community features of the Xbox 360 console, has achieved tremendous success so far, boasting a subscriber base of more than 2 million consumers worldwide, which continues to grow each day. According to the Microsoft, Xbox Live is used to send more than 600,000 text messages each day, and its Marketplace service has recorded over 10 million content downloads to date.